The Rising
2 books
The Rising series by Brian Keene has 2 books. Start with The Rising (2003), then read the rest in the order below.
The Rising reading order
The Rising
Brian Keene
When the dead begin rising with intelligence, determination, and an insatiable hunger, ordinary survival becomes an almost impossible struggle. Jim Thurmond sets out across a devastated landscape in a desperate attempt to find his son, confronting relentless undead threats and the collapse of everything familiar along the way. Blending visceral zombie horror with themes of parental devotion, human endurance, and societal breakdown, the novel delivers a tense, fast-paced vision of apocalypse. It launched a celebrated horror series and earned recognition with the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel.
City of the Dead
Brian Keene
As a devastating plague transforms the dead into relentless, intelligent predators, a desperate band of survivors reaches New York City in search of safety. There, they find refuge in a fortified skyscraper—but its billionaire owner’s grand plans for humanity may be as dangerous as the undead outside. Meanwhile, a recovering addict, a conflicted pastor, and an outlaw military faction struggle to survive in a society where violence, exploitation, and fear have replaced the rule of law. Blending visceral horror with suspense, moral complexity, and questions about power and human resilience, this sequel expands its apocalyptic world while driving its survivors toward an increasingly perilous confrontation.